Summary form means



April 13, 1943. J. zALKlND SUMMARY yFonM MEANS Filed Feb. 9, 1939` 2Sheets-Sheet 1 mow a? INVENTOR4 ATTORNEYS Aprill 13, 1943. u. zALKlNDSUMMARY FORM MEANS Filed Feb. 9. 1959 ATTORNEY 8 Patented Apr. 13, 1943UN ITE-D STATES PTLEN T C) FfFilfCE 2,316,209 SUMMARY FORM MEANS JosephZ'alkind, New York, N. Y. Application February 9, 1939, Serial No.255,413

(Cl. Rit-4) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device to facilitate thesummary andcomputation of .data contained in a series of similar slips, sheets,records `or forms, the items lon each of such slips vbeing the same,`said series of slips or sheets varying from each other in the amountsor figures placed-next to similar items. Throughout the descriptionherein, sales slips will be referred to by way of illustration only; itwill be readily understood that a means which will facilitate thecomputation, distribution or other accounting and tabulating processeswhich relate to sales slips, may also be utilized advantageously withreference to otherltypes of sheets or forms and other problems ofcomputation of various kinds.

In one general type of sales slip, a series of items or articles arearranged vertically upon such slip in columnar form. In an adjoiningcolumn, a space is provided wherein the quantity,

if any, of each item sold may be placed, and, in

another column, spaces are provided for the entry of the value of theitem` sold; each slip usually being used for a single sales transactiononly, although such sales transaction 'may relate to several differentitems of merchandise. It may be desired, Whenthe salesslips for va-rioussalesmen and customers are collected, to tabulate the total value of anyparticular item sold and recorded upon such sales slips, or the totalquantities of such items; yor, as is usually the case, it is necessary,as to eachitem, to tabulate and record both the total value and amountof rsuch items sold `over a specic period or set forth in Va Y of slipsor sheets in vsubstantially parallel vover- V lapping relationship insuch a manner that items on each of such slips relating to the samesubject matter will lie in a common line or row and thus facilitate thereading of such matter for the purpose of computation, analysis,comparison or statistical study.

Heretofore, `this object has been accomplished by various means: In themethod most commonly in use at present, the slips or `sheets `areperforatedin a predetermined manner along a specific edge, theperforations being required -to be spaced in exact dimensional-relationship to each other, to the edge Iof the sheet and to vthe or ofithe `line of perforations will, throw `the matter to be computed :outof alignment y,and :pre` vent thecreation oflparallelrowsof lgureswhichare required for `simple tabulation. Suchp'slight inaccuracies iinregister often arelunavoida'ble and always result in a mass of `sheetswhich are useless lfrom the point 'of View of rapid tabulation sinceindividual 'handling of each sheet is then required. In addition, theperforating orLpunching -of `all sheets to be used in such a method isan expensive Aprocess and results also in Ladded printing costs. yThemore expensive Flat Bed printing must lbe usedlsince rotary printing`does not give 'the `exact register required when the sheets arepre-perforated.

Further objects lof this invention, therefore, are fto provide a meanswhich will 'facilitate the summary and tabulation of record sheetsWherein such sheets may be engaged land positively held in Idesiredparallel relationship and alignment `for the purpose lof tabulation,wherein printed matter on each .sheet may, if desired, :be aligned 'withprinted matter on other sheets `irrespective of 'the inaccuracy ofregister of 'such printed matter upon itssheet, and wherein this may,be-done Without prior perforation or other treatment -of the sheet.-

Additional fob'jeets of this invention rare to provide a means whichwill not merely frictionally grip the record sheet tbut "which willpositively hold it against undesired removal, to provide -a meanswhichtvill permitthealignmentfand positive holding of keac-h such sheetindividually -the moment it -is placed 'upon the 4simimary means,suchVpositive hold not be'ing relinquished when other l'sheets -a-realigned Aupon 'such means; to provide a simpliiied means wherein thesheets, after tabulation, may be reversed `Vfor tabulation of materialon the opposite side thereof; to provide ja `simplified means,inexpensively constructed, `wherein the arrangement of the `sheets uponthe summary means need :not interfere with or interrupt the tabulationoperation, thus increasing the eciency of the computing operator; toprovide a simple guide means to facilitate the reading of the rows ofgures and items; to so construct the guide means as to facilitate thearrangement of the sheets; andto provide complete protection for theuser or operator cf the summary means. f

Other objects and uses of this invention will, in part be apparent and,in part, pointed out in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the removal member 210 of Figure 5.

Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of the member of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2looking in the direction of l the arrow.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of a preferred.

form of the operating mechanism forming my summary board.

Figure 5 isa cross sectional view line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 showing the perforator in a depressedposition.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line.1-1 of Figure 6looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 vis a view corresponding to that of Figure 5 showing theimpaling and perforating apparatus depressed beneath the plane of theboard. v Y

A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in Figures 4-7, in whichthe summary board or backing support 200 has mounted thereon 4at theendthereof the perforating means 201. The perforating means 201comprises a base plate 202 and a back plate 203. A rod 204 is supportedtaken on the inthe bearings 205 which in turn are mounted on the baseplate 202. The Vrod 204 carries rotatable members 200 rotatably mountedthereon.

Y. thus descend to impale the forms.

Pressure upon the leg 232 of the hook 220 will raise the latch portion221 and thus permit the cover member to close over the pins 210. Theslat 223, having perforations thereon (particularly Figure 3) may bemounted over the pins 216 before any forms 224 are placed upon the pinsand will assist in removing such forms.

The operation of my summary board will be obvious. The forms 224 may beplaced upon the pins 216 and the perforating member 208 may bedepressed, thus impaling the forms 224 upon the pins 210 as previouslydescribed. It is obvious that any convenient portion of the perforatingmember 208 may be pressed down by hand and the entire perforating memberwill In order to limit the upward movement of the perforating bar 203and to Vhave the said perforating bar mounted above the pins only thenecessary distance above them to permit quick and simple operation,raset screw or other stop means may be mounted upon the back plate 203 topress against one of the rotatable members 206 preferably the centralone and thus provide an optionally variable limit for the upwardmovement of the perforating member 208.

It is obvious that the cover 2,11 of the'removable member 210 provides aback stop which will assist in aligning the paper.

In order to further facilitate the operation of my invention the entirebase plate 202 and the perforating mechanism 201 may be depressed belowthe surface of the summary board 200 as shown in Fig. 8 so that thepoints of the pins 216 ,f will lie substantially in the plane of theupper surface of the summary boardr200.` In this manner instead ofrequiring that the forms be 'lifted up and pressed on the pins 2 i 5 theforms 224 may f merely be slid Yback along the board 200 and Therotation of the rotatable members about the rod 204 is limited by thesprings 201, one end of.

each Vof which is captured within a rotatable member 200, the other end`secured within the bearing 205.v The springs 201 arey so arranged that.in the` normal position the rotatable members 200 are in the positionvshown in Figure 5. The: rotatable members 2015 ,carry a perforator 208having perforations 200 on the under-side thereof.

L A'removable member 210 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is removably secured onthe base plate 202 by means of a suitable hook, which registers with thecorresponding notch 212 (Figure 1) and a suitable post of the base plate202 which registers withthe corresponding perforation 214 of theAremovable member 210 (Figure 1),.

The removable member 210 comprises plate 215 (Figs. 1 to 3), whichcarries thereon a series of pins 215, the function of which has beenpreviously described. Hingedly connected to the plate 215 of theremovable member 210 is a cover 211 which is normally maintained in theclosed position as shown in Figures 1 and 3 by the springs 210. Thecover 211 has a recessed p0rtion 219 adapted to t over the pins 216 andVthusV to cover them. When the removable memover the nails 210 and thenthe perforator 208 depressed. Y Y

When the forms are properly arranged on the pins 215 the legs 252 of thehook 220 may be depressed thus releasing the cover 211 so that thesprings 218 will force the cover down over the nails 216 producing the`condition shownin Figure 1. rIhe entire removable member 210 may thenbe removedl from the summary board and carried with the forms arrangedthereon tothe computer or tabulator. Obviously the forms may betabulated while they are' on the original summary board but theremovable member provides for removal of the arranged forms and obviatesthe necessity for unnecessary duplication of apparatus. f

It will also be obvious that any danger of injury to the operator byreason of the pins is to a great extent obviated in that when theremovable member or pin-carrying member 210 is in position on thesummary board 220, access to the points of the pins 210 is madedifiicult by the fact Y that the perforated bar 200 is poised above thepins; while when the arranged forms are re- `ber 210 is mounted on thesummary board ras Y moved from the summary board the cover 211(Figure 1) protects the user against any injury bythepins. Y .Y

In all of the operations herein described, the one diiiculty which mustbe at all times kept inV mind is that of any possible danger'to theoper! insureA that the points of the pins 216 will at allr times be`covered. Here` again the summary board 200- has a perforating member 20l mount,- edfthereon. The perforating` member 20|` has, a base plate202. A cover member 240 is pivotally mounted upon rotatable arms 24|,24|. Therotatable arms 24| are rotatably mounted on the `rod 242 andsuitable means may be provided such asl spring 260 to normally maintainthe cover member in position as shown in Figure where` theL forward edgeof the cover member 240 covers the` pinsl 2`|6. A perforating member 208is` mounted' pivotally on rotatable member 206 upon the bar 204 andsprings T normally maintain4 such perforating member 208 in the positionasshown in Figure 5 by means of legs 20'Ia pressingagainst the studs206a on the cams 248. The leg' 20T-'bpresses against the fixed rod 242.A spring 260, one leg of which is secured by the sha-ft 242 and theother leg of which bears behind the. supporting member 24| for the cover240'` normally biases the cover member toward covering position.

In this type of form I provide however a bar 243 at the forward end ofthe perforating. member 208, said bar having a series of perforations244 (Figures 6, 7) therein which register with the pins 2|6 when saidbar is depressed to the position shown in Figure 6. The perforating bar243 may take many forms. In the preferred form, I provide a bar 245having a series of slots cut therein which form three sides of theperforations 244 and then I attach by any suitable means such as thescrew 246 a cover bar 241 to said rst bar 245 thus producing theperforating bar 243 and the perforations 244.

In this form the rotatable members 206 continue beyond the rod 204 uponwhich they are mounted and form the cam 248 (Figures 5 and 6). Theoperation of this form of the invention will now be clear. The forms 224are placed (Figure 5) with their ends resting upon the lip of the covermember 240. The operator then grasps the end or handle 249 or bar 249aof the perforating member 208 and pushes the perforating member 208forward and down in the direction indicated by the arrow 250 to thepositionshown in Figure 6. The performance of this operation causes thecam 248 to rotate backwardly'in the opposite direction and to pressstuds 206e against the rotatable members 24| thus pushing such membersback and thereby pushing back the cover member 240 in the oppositedirection to the position shown in Figure 6. The pins 2|6 are thusuncovered in time to receive the papers 224, and the perforations 244which impale the papers on the pins.

It will thus be seen that the pins 2|6 at all times remain covered thusprotecting the operators and that the only way to remove the cover 240from its position above the pins is to depress the perforating member208 so that the perforations 244 register with the pins 2|6 in whichcase the pins again are kept covered. While I have here shown a use ofthe cover member wherein the papers are laid on the lip of the cover,such papers may in the first instance be inserted in the gap between thecover members and the pins. When the forms are completely tabulated, thehook 220 may be released so that the latch portions 22| thereof nolonger engage the cover 2H thus permitting the cover to drop and permitthe removal of the arranged and tabulated forms.

In this final improved form also the perforating and 4impaling apparatusmay (as shown in 7 5 Figure; 8) without any, change inthe construction,or formation thereof; kie-depressed below the plane of thesummary boardso that the points-I oil the pins 2|6 and the forward lip of theY covermember 240 lie substantially in. the planethereof for-'purposes hereindescribed.

Also., any ofthe removal slats or membersherein described may bevmounted, on the tabulation board asV heretofore describedin reversedposition to make the backs of the arranged forms available fortabulation.

In the foregoing description and in the` following claims, I have beenwell aware of Patentv No. 1,817,640 issued to N. E. Newman et al. onIAugust 4, 1931; Reissue Patent No. 19,994 issuedto F. A. Niemann et al;on June 2, 1936; Patent No. 1,884,814 issued to F. A. Niemann et al.,kon October 25,1932; Patent No. 2,033,147issued to F. A. Niemann et al.,on March 10, 1936; ReissuePatentv No. 19,743, issued to N. E. Newman, etal., October 29, 1935,-a1l of which require prior perforationin. apredetermined manner of the sheets or` records` to be tabulated.

I am also aware of the following patents each of. which also requireprior predetermined perforation of the sheets or records: Patent No.2,006,795 to G. H. Dawson, July 2, 1935; Patent No. 2,036,684 to G. H.Dawson, April 7, 1936; Patent No. 2,000,558 to G. H. Dawson, May 7,1936; Patent No. 2,077,677 to G. H. Dawson, April 20, 1937; Patent No.1,958,743 to R. L. Connor, May 15, 1934; and Patent No. 1,988,368 toAinsworth, January 15, 1935.

I am also aware of Patent No. 1,844,744 to W. O. Critchf'ield, Feb. 9,1932, which does not permit individual alignment and positive holding ofeach sheet before the next one is placed on the aligning device, butrequires that all the sheets be arranged and held manually or otherwisein a manner not set forth, before the holding device can be closed.There is no means for preventing accidental movement of the sheetsrelative to each other until they are all alignedv and the deviceclosed.

I am also aware of Patent No. 2,061,878 to Niemann, Nov. 24, 1936, whichrequires springclips which exert primarily a frictional rather than apositive hold. Some of the spring clips holding a sheet must be raisedto permit the placement and aligning of the adjoining sheet; or thesheets must be held at one corner only until the superposed and adjacentsheets are laid down, thus making alignment more diflicult. Further, thespring clips must be laterally adjustable for different sizes ofsheets-all of which diiliculties are not present in my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A record sheet holder comprising a backing support adapted to receivea multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data;means carried by said backing support for positively engaging the endsof said strips to hold them in spaced stepped relation across saidbacking support with columns exposed, said means comprising a row ofpins carried by said backing support; means for impaling each of saidstrips upon appropriate pins, each impaled strip remaining inpredetermined position while subsequent strips are applied; saidimpaling means comprising a bar having perforations registering withsaid pins; said bar being mounted above the pins on members retaining itin raised position, said members being arranged to yield to manualpressure upon said bar, and a shield covering said pins when said bar israised, said shield being arranged to receive the ends of said strips;said shield being arranged to expose said pins and leave said strip endsupon said pins When said bar is lowered for the perforations toimpalesaid strips on said pins.

2. A record sheet holder comprising a backing support adapted toreceivea multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numericaldata; means carried by said backing support for positively engaging theends of said strips to hold them in spaced stepped relation across saidbacking support with columns exposed, said means comprising a row ofpins carried by said Vbacking support; means for impaling each of saidstrips upon appropriate pins, each impaled strip remaining inpredetermined position While subsequent strips are applied; saidimpaling kmeans comprising a bar having perforations registering withsaid pins; said bar being mounted above the pins on members retaining itin raised position, said members being arranged to yield to manualpressure upon said bar, and a shield covering said pins when said bar israised, said shield being arranged to receive the ends of said strips;said shield being arranged to expose said pins and leave said strip'ends upon said pins when said baris lowered for the perforations toimpale said strips on said pins, the mounting of said pins and shieldbeing depressed below the face of said backing support;r the `points ofsaid pins and the face of said shield being substantially even with theface of said backing support.A

3. A record sheet holder comprising a backing support adapted to receivea multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data;means carried by said backing support forv positively engaging the endsof said strips to hold them in spaced stepped relation across saidbacking supportwith columns exposed, said means comprising a row of pinscarried by said backing support; means for impaling each of said stripsupon appropriate pins, each impaled strip remaining in predeterminedposition While subsequent strips are applied; the mounting of said pinsbeing depressed below the face of said backing support; the points ofsaid pins being substantially even with the face of said backingsupport.

JOSEPH ZALKIND.

